Explorations (2012-10-07)

7 October 2012  -  27^th Sunday (B) - 

[ Genesis 2:18-24  | Psalm 128 | Hebrews 2:9-11 | + Mark 10:2-16]

This is my homily for 7 October  2012 (Sunday). I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association and at New Jersey City University (NJCU) in Jersey City.  We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (7:00 p.m.) at the FDU University Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

[__01]  Tomorrow is Columbus Day.

Through the journeys/travels of Christopher Columbus, our land, our territory – where we are – is given a name by European explorers, a names of places in European languages.

These names endure to this day –

• New York
• New Jersey
• And in particular, in Spanish mission territory, Catholic names – such as Saint Augustine in Florida, and the mission locations of California – San Diego, San Francisco. And, Los Ángeles.

These names were given and applied to places

In the same way a chemist would apply a name to a new tiny molecule (via the microscope) or an astronomer would give a name to a new faraway star-planet (via the telescope).

But, of course, the name itself – New York, New Jersey, San Diego – does not tell the whole history.

And, in the case of European explorers-colonizers, some of them gave names to places, to people, but did not necessarily respect the life (well being) of those whom they named and defined.

We would also say that the natives here – on the Hackensack River prior to Columbus – did not really need to be ¨discovered¨, but there was an encounter happening between Europe of the day and the natives of our continent and islands here.

There was a naming and defining going on, by Columbus and by other explorers who arrived here.

[__02]   In the Book of Genesis, Adam is similar to an explorer, encountering every bird of the air, every animal – not simply as an image on a screen or through a telescope but in person.

The ¨naming¨ is, as we read in Genesis, a breeze for Adam. No trouble at all to make this definitions.

The naming was smooth sailing for Columbus. The hard part was coming here, settling, adapting to a new climate and geography, the hard part for any of the colonists who arrive. (Also hard on the natives…)

The naming is a breeze for Adam. The difficult struggle is finding the suitable partner, the relationship which will help him become his true self, the person God is calling him to be.

As we read in the Book of Genesis, ¨It is not good for the man to be alone.¨

So, Adam and Eve have names and complete and complement each other with similar natures. They are equal before God, but made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) in different ways.

Both are made in the image and likeness of God.

[__03]   This is also true in our regard for children in our lives, in anyone whom we care for at any age.

In the case of a child – by giving a name to a child – we are not exactly ¨discovering¨ the child any more than Columbus discovered the Carribean islands.

The child has an independence, a completeness, a beauty, an identity, even before we name a son or daughter.

But, by naming the child is recognized by mother, father, family as one who is completely new, never to be seen again or discovered by scientists or explorers.

Calling a child by name is the first stage of teaching him or her respect, individuality, perception of individual gifts. Called a name (as children), we are also called to be something… to do something.

[__04]   The Good News of the Gospel today and the Good News of every Christmas – December 25 – is that the Kingdom of God arrives as a child.

We read that Jesus  says today in the Gospel that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these [children] …

In Matthew 18:3, he who receives this child, receives me…

[__05]  Our spiritual life is also an exploration, not simply to memorize names or facts – molecules or planets  or the material facts about other people but also to recognize the image of God present in every other person, to help us to grow in love, mercy, compassion.

To grow in who we are supposed to be.

[__06]   We can see the image of our frailty, our fragility in another person. But, we also see the image of our strength in another person.

We see the image of our weakness and strength in Christ who suffers, dies and rises.

So, today, we pray for life at all stages, for children yet to be born, that we will love them …

We people at all stages who might enter into new relationships.

For example, to pray for new friends and to pray for the future spouse – future wife or husband – whom we have not yet met.

Mothers and fathers pray for children who will be born in this way.

This helps us to be open to the suitable partner – and the gifts – which God would sends into our lives.

So that we might recognize the gift, the person whom God provides.

This helps us grow in appreciation of God’s image, wherever it is present, wherever it can be discovered, wherever it can be named.     [__fin_]